Baseball batting training device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A device (10) for training a batter for a baseball or softball game has a body (12) that is fitted to the arm of the user, parallel to the humerus bone. A slot (30) on an outer surface of the device body is sized and adapted to receive a shaft portion of a user&#39;s bat, at an oblique angle to the humerus bone. The device trains the user to keep the shaft of the bat close to an upper portion of the user&#39;s arm below the shoulder and above the elbow. The device also trains the user to employ a rotation of the torso and hips to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat, causing the bat to be pulled out of the slot and into a swing plane.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for baseball batting training and a method of use for a device for baseball batting training. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device used in training a batter in the game of baseball, although it also has applicability to the related game of softball. While the device would not be used during a game, it is useful in training a player, especially a young player, to keep the shaft of the bat close to an upper portion of the player's arm below the shoulder, that is, a portion along the humerus bone (“humerus”) between the shoulder and the elbow. The device itself has a body (“device body”) that runs parallel to the humerus bone and is fitted to the arm. A slot on an outer surface of the device body is sized and adapted to receive a shaft portion of the player's bat, at an oblique angle to the humerus bone. When the player is in a batting stance with the bat in position, the player uses a rotation of the core of the torso and hips to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat, pulling it out of the slot and into a swing plane, rather than using the hands and wrists to impel the bat. In some instances, the device further comprises a strap that holds the bat in the slot until the strap is overcome by the inertia of the bat.

BACKGROUND

The game of baseball originated in its present form not long before the 1860's and emerged as a professional sport with the Cincinnati Reds baseball club in 1869. An unchanged feature of the game over its lifetime is the one-on-one challenge of a pitcher on one team to throw a ball through a defined volume (“the strike zone”) to a catcher, without a batter on the opposing team being able to contact the pitched ball and propel it into a defined area of the playing field called “fair territory,” or even more preferably, to propel the ball as a “home run” over a fence in the fair territory.

The batter is generally positioned facing the intended path of the ball as it passes though the strike zone, with a leading shoulder towards the pitcher and a trailing shoulder towards the catcher. Because some batters will prefer to be on one side of the strike zone while others will prefer to be on the other side, the arms will be referred to in this application as the “leading arm” and the “trailing arm,” so that the device and method described herein will be readily applicable to all batters. A current trend in training batters' endeavors to train the batter to hold a handle portion of the bat in the hands, close to the body, with an intermediate shaft portion of the bat held close to the upper arm, near the humerus. A particular increase in the diameter of the bat beyond the intermediate portion defines a head portion of the bat, in which much of the mass is concentrated. Success as a batter entails placing the bat head, in an accelerated condition, into a solid contact with the ball.

The pitcher relies upon rotation of the core of the body, rather than the arms, to impel the ball. In a similar manner, the goal of the batter is to rely upon rotation of the body core to impel the bat head.

It is an unmet need of the prior art to provide a batter with a training device that requires the batter to use the body core to initiate movement of the bat head, rather than the hands. Such a device will familiarize the batter with the feeling of the proper movement, so that it becomes a part of “muscle memory” and is used in game situations.

SUMMARY

These and other unmet needs are met by a training device as described in more detail below.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a baseball batting training device and method of use thereof.

Exemplary baseball batting training devices are useful in training a player, especially a young player, to optimize proper player body movement for batting by at least causing the player to use the body core to initiate movement of the bat head, and to hold the handle portion of the bat in the hands, close to the body, with the intermediate shaft portion of the bat held close to the upper arm, near the humerus.

The device may comprise a flexible, elongate device body, where the device body may run parallel to the humerus. The device body may be fitted to a portion of a user's upper arm. When the device is affixed along the upper arm, a surface that faces the arm may be hollowed out, which may assist in preventing rotation of the device body around the humeral axis. A strap may be used to cinch the device to the user's arm. The strap may comprise a web material. In certain preferred embodiments, the strap comprises at least one hook-and-loop fastener to cause the strap to close around the user's arm. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that any number of different materials may be used to form the strap and to cause the strap to close around the user's arm.

The device body may comprise at least one slot on an outer surface, where the at least one slot may be an open channel positioned at an oblique angle to the humerus. The at least one slot may be sized and adapted to receive a shaft portion of the player's bat. The at least one slot may require the player to hold a handle portion of the bat in the hands, close to the body, with the shaft portion of the bat held close to the upper arm, near the humerus, such that the player achieves a particular batting stance.

The at least one slot may further require the player in the batting stance with the bat to rotate the player's body core, specifically the hips and the core of the torso, to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat. The player may rotate the body core by rotating, for example, the hips and core of the torso about an axis running generally from the leading foot and leg to the leading shoulder. The moment of rotational inertia in the bat may cause the bat to be expelled from the slot and thereafter enter a swing plane where ideally the bat head may strike a baseball, softball, whiffle ball, or the like. By way of example and not limitation, a baseball positioned on a tee may be positioned within the swing plane such that a user engaging in proper player body movement may strike the baseball with the bat head, causing the baseball to travel into fair territory.

The device body may further comprise an additional strap which is useful in training a player to optimize proper player body movement for batting. The additional strap may have a first end anchored to a front surface of the device body below a lower edge of the at least one slot. The additional strap may extend from the anchored first end to a second end, where an upper portion of the strap may extend from the second end to a portion of the strap between the first end and second end. The upper portion of the strap may be configured to connect to a portion of the front surface of the device body above an upper edge of the at least one slot. In certain exemplary embodiments, the second end of the strap may be fastened to the portion of the front surface above the upper edge of the at least one slot by hook-and-loop fastening. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any number of different materials may be used to cause the second end to connect to the portion of the front surface above the upper edge of the at least one slot. The purpose of the additional strap is to require even more angular momentum to be used by the user to cause the bat shaft to be released from the at least one slot compared to embodiments of the device not having the additional strap.

The device may cause the bat to be retained within the slot where a player fails to sufficiently rotate the body core to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat. By way of example and not limitation, many players, especially young players, may attempt to use the hands and wrists to impel the bat while neglecting to rotate the body core. Where the player attempts to use the hands and wrists to impel the bat while neglecting to rotate the body core, the moment of rotational inertia in the bat is not sufficient to cause the bat to be expelled from the slot. Thus, the device forces the user to sufficiently rotate the body core in order to cause the bat head to contact a baseball, whiffle ball, softball, or the like. Repeated uses of the device may cause the player to develop a tendency to exercise proper player body movement in any batting situation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features and advantages mentioned above, other features and advantages disclosed herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a batter using an exemplary baseball batting training device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary baseball batting training device of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a left-side perspective view of the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a right-side perspective view of the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the FIG. 2 embodiment where an exemplary bat strap is in a closed position with respect to a slot; and

FIG. 7 shows another front view of the FIG. 2 embodiment where an exemplary bat strap is not in a closed position with respect to a slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed baseball batting training device and method of use may be useful in training a player, especially a young player, to optimize proper player body movement for batting.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 , a user 14 is shown in the act of swinging a bat 16 to strike a baseball 20 poised upon a hitting tee (“tee”) 22 while using an embodiment 10 of the inventive device. While this figure depicts the user 14 swinging at a static target (a baseball 20 on a tee 22), it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the device 10 is equally applicable in training a user to swing at a dynamic target, such as a ball that is pitched or is propelled by a pitching machine. It will be further understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the target is not limited to a baseball. In other embodiments, the target may be a whiffle ball, softball, or the like.

FIG. 1 is exemplary of a batting technique that is taught to players. Without going too deeply into the theory involved, the basic concept taught is that the upper portion of the bat (“bat head”) 19 should not be pulled into the swing zone by the hands 26 and arms 24 of the user 14, which are on the lower portion (“handle”) 15 of the bat 16. Instead, the hands 26 should be maintained close to the torso 25B of the user's 14 body core 25, with the head 19 of the bat 16 close to a trailing shoulder 13B, preferably slightly below the shoulder 13B. As the batter rotates the torso 25B and hips 25A of body core 25 about an axis running generally from the leading foot 23 and leg 21 to the leading shoulder 13A, the musculature of the body core 25 generates more power than can be generated by the hands 26 and arms 24. This is especially true when fine control of the bat head 19 must be maintained by the hands 26.

As the body core 25 continues this rotation, the center of mass of the bat 16, which is in the bat head 19, and the distance between that center of mass and the axis of bat 16 rotation, which is located near the hands 26, operates to generate angular acceleration that pulls the bat head 19 away from the arm 24 and into a swing plane where collision with the ball 20 may occur. It is believed to be important to teach a batter to experience the feel of this angular acceleration by using a device that effectively blocks out the ability of the hands/wrists (e.g., 26) to cause the acceleration of the bat 16.

The device 10, as seen in FIG. 1 , has a flexible, elongate body 12 that can be attached to the posterior surface of an upper portion of the user's 14 arm 24. The device body 12 may extend above the top of the trailing shoulder 13B to provide a vertical resting point. In exemplary embodiments, the device body 12 terminates above the elbow of arm 24. The device body 12 may be generally cylindrical, and may comprise an axis that runs parallel to an axis of the humerus bone of arm 24. When the device 10 is affixed along the upper arm, a surface that faces the arm 24 will generally be hollowed out, which assists in preventing rotation of the device body 12 around the humeral axis. On an opposite surface of the device body 12, an open channel or slot that runs obliquely across the device body 12 is sized to closely receive an intermediate portion 17 of the bat 16. Because the diameter of the bat 16 increases above this intermediate portion 17, an attempt to use the hands 26 to pull the bat 16 in its axial direction will be met with resistance. The user 14 may soon find that the angular velocity generated by rotating the body core 25 allows the bat 16 to disengage from the device body 12 through the open length of the channel.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a bat strap 18 is positioned on the device body 12. The bat strap 18 may require the user 14 to generate even more angular momentum to cause the bat shaft 17 to be released from the channel compared to embodiments of the device not having the bat strap 18.

An exemplary embodiment of the device 10 is shown in several further views in FIGS. 2 through 7 . The device 10 has a generally cylindrical body 12, formed from a cylinder of a foamed polymeric material, such as, by way of example and not limitation, a foamed, closed-cell polyurethane. In some embodiments, the device body 12 may be an intact cylinder. This is notable, because one desired feature of the device 10 is to adapt the shape of the device body 12 to accommodate a user. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5 , it is noted that a top surface 28 of the device body 12 is not circular, but instead has a lunate profile that is a result of removing a portion of the material along a rear surface 40, which, in use, will be an inner surface 40 of the device 10 that bears against the arm of the user. This rear surface 40 will be positioned against the posterior surface of the arm on which it is worn by a user. In certain embodiments, the removal of material from the rear surface may be stopped short of the top surface 28 to define a ledge (not shown), where the ledge may rest on the user's shoulder, minimizing axial movement of the device 10 on the user's arm.

A strap 32 may be used to cinch the device 10 to the user's arm. The strap 32 may comprise web material. As shown in FIGS. 3-5 , the strap 32 of webbing may include hook-and-loop fastening to cause the strap 32 to close around a user's arm, and/or to cause the strap 32 and thus the device 10 to be removably secure with respect to the user's arm. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first portion 42 of the strap 32 extends from and is securely attached to the device body 12 on a first side, and is securely attached to a strap aperture 44 on a second side. The strap aperture 44 may be configured to link a second portion of the strap 32 comprising a hook section 46 and a loop section 48 to the first portion 42. The hook section 46 may be attached at any number of locations along the loop section 48 to cause the strap 32 to be adjustable and/or to close around any number of different sized arms. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not intended to be limited to hook-and-loop fastening to cause the device body 12 to be secured to a user's arm. Any number of different methods and/or materials may be used to cause the strap 32 to be removably secure with respect to the user's arm.

FIGS. 3-4 show an embodiment of the device body 12 intended for use by a right-handed batter and is worn on the upper portion of the right arm of the user. FIG. 3 specifically shows a left-side perspective view of the device 10, and FIG. 4 shows a right-side perspective view of the device 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device 10 intended for use with a left-handed batter and is worn on the upper portion of the left arm of the user. An open channel or slot 30 may run obliquely across the device body 12, with a lower end facing an anterior surface of the user's body. The channel 30 may be sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of the player's bat. The aforementioned configuration puts the bat head beyond an upper end of the channel 30, extending upwardly at a posterior surface of the user's body.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 , the channel 30 may be configured to require a player to rotate the player's body core with sufficient angular momentum to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat which may cause the bat to be expelled from the channel 30. In FIGS. 3-4 , the channel 30 is depicted in a “right-handed batter” version. The channel 30 may be wider when viewed from left side (shown in FIG. 3 ) compared to the right side (shown in FIG. 4 ) because of the channel's 30 oblique shape. A perceived advantage of the aforementioned configuration plays upon the fact that a baseball bat has a handle and intermediate shaft portion that has a consistent small diameter, but as one approaches the head of the bat, the diameter undergoes an increase in diameter before settling into a consistent, larger diameter that defines the bat head. If the user tries to “pull” the bat through the channel 30, rather than allowing angular momentum to “pop” the bat out of the open face of the channel 30, the narrowing left-to-right width of the channel restricts the user's “pull.” In other embodiments, the narrowing width of the channel may be right-to-left to provide the aforementioned advantage to left-handed batters. In yet other embodiments, top and bottom sides of the channel may be substantially parallel.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a strap that holds the bat (“bat strap”) 18 in the slot until the bat strap 18 is overcome by the inertia of the bat. Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 and 6-7 , a bat strap 18 may be configured to extend across the top of device 10 and attach to a pad 27. When the bat strap 18 is attached to the pad 27 (“closed position”), a bat positioned in the channel 30 behind the bat strap 18 must necessarily detach the bat strap 18 from the pad 27 in order for the bat to enter the swing plane. The purpose of the bat strap 18 is to require that even more angular momentum is used by the user to release the bat shaft out of the open channel 30 compared to embodiments of the device 10 not having a bat strap 18.

The bat strap 18 may have a first end anchored to a front surface of the device body 12 below a lower edge of the channel 30. The bat strap 18 may extend from the anchored first end to a second end. The bat strap 18 may be configured to fold about a bat strap aperture 38. The bat strap aperture 38 may permit a user to adjust the amount of slack in the bat strap 18. By way of example and not limitation, additional slack may be desired when the bat being used is of a larger diameter. An upper portion 34 of the bat strap 18 may be configured to attach to the pad 27 positioned above an upper edge of the channel 30 to form the closed position shown in FIG. 6 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 6-7 , the upper portion 34 of the bat strap 18 may comprise hooks, and the pad 27 may comprise loops to permit hook-and-loop fastening between the upper portion 34 and the pad 27.

A lower portion 36 of the bat strap 18 may also comprise loops to permit the upper portion 34 to attach to the lower portion 36, which may, for example by way of illustration and not limitation, reduce the amount of strap hanging from the device 10 when the device is not being used. The upper portion 34 may extend from the second end to a portion of the strap between the first end and the second end. The lower portion 36 may extend from the anchored first end to a portion of the strap between the first end and the second end. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any number of different materials and/or methods may be used to connect an upper portion 36 of an exemplary bat strap 18 to a portion of the device body 12 above the channel 30.

While a baseball batting training device and method of use has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that a baseball batting training device and method of use not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. All citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for training a user in batting a ball, comprising: a body member; an open channel; wherein the body member is adapted to be secured along an upper portion of an arm of the user, the arm being a trailing arm of the user when the user is positioned to strike the ball with a bat; wherein the body member comprises an axis that runs substantially parallel to the humerus bone of the trailing arm; wherein the open channel is sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat having a handle portion at a first end and a ball-striking portion at a second end; and wherein angular momentum generated in the intermediate shaft portion of the bat by body core rotation of the user causes the intermediate portion of the bat to be released from the open channel and into a ball-striking arc.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein: the ball is a baseball.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein: the ball is positioned on a batting tee.
 4. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a removed portion defining an inner surface of the body member; wherein the removed portion is adapted to be secured along the upper portion of the arm of the user.
 5. The device claim 1, wherein: the open channel runs obliquely across an outer surface of the body member.
 6. The device of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustable strap; wherein the adjustable strap is configured to close around the arm to cinch the bat thereto.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein: the adjustable strap includes a first portion comprising hooks and a second portion comprising loops; wherein the hooks are configured to engage the loops to cause the first portion to be securely connected to the second portion.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a bat strap having a first end and a second end; wherein a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end is configured to be attached to a portion of the body member above the open channel.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein: one of the portion of the bat strap extending form the second end and the portion of the body member comprises hooks, and the other comprises loops; wherein the hooks are configured to engage the loops to cause the portion of the bat strap extending from the second end to be securely connected to the portion of the body member above the open channel.
 10. A method for assembling a device for training a user in batting a baseball, the method comprising: assembling a substantially cylindrical body member; removing an open channel sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat from the substantially cylindrical body member; removing a portion of the body member to define an inner surface sized to be secured along the upper portion of the arm of the user; and providing an adjustable strap configured to close around the arm to cinch the bat thereto.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a bat strap having a first end and a second end; and anchoring the first end of the bat strap to a portion of the body member below the open channel.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing an attachment pad configured to attach to a portion of the bat strap to permit a closed position thereof.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing foamed polymeric material to form the body member.
 14. The method claim 13, further comprising: providing foamed, closed-cell polyurethane to form the body member.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing hooks on one of the attachment pad and a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end, and providing loops on the other of the attachment pad and the portion of the bat strap extending from the second end.
 16. A device for training a user in batting a baseball, comprising: a body member; an open channel; a bat strap; an adjustable strap; wherein the adjustable strap is configured to close around an arm of a user to cinch the bat thereto; wherein the body member is adapted to be secured along an upper portion of the arm of the user, the arm being a trailing arm of the user when the user is positioned to strike the ball with a bat; wherein the body member comprises an axis that runs substantially parallel to the humerus bone of the trailing arm; wherein the open channel is sized and adapted to receive an intermediate shaft portion of a bat having a handle portion at a first end and a ball-striking portion at a second end; wherein angular momentum generated in the intermediate shaft portion of the bat by body core rotation of the user causes the intermediate portion of the bat to be released from the open channel and into a ball-striking arc; wherein the open channel runs obliquely across an outer surface of the body member; wherein the bat strap includes a first end and a second end; and wherein a portion of the bat strap extending from the second end is configured to be attached to a portion of the body member above the open channel. 